Budimex to develop a self-repairing road

News date: March 4, 2020

Higher strength and increased durability of asphalt pavement - these are the main goals of the newly launched SeHePa project, involving Budimex in cooperation with the Warsaw University of Technology. The technologies developed, based on the action of innovative microcapsules in mineral-asphalt mixtures, will be used in the construction projects implemented by the company.

The main assumption of the project is to develop an innovative technology for the production of an intelligent asphalt additive. The additive will remain dormant during daily use of the pavement. It will be activated and repair damage to the pavement only if cracking occurs. Stopping the development of microcracks in the mineral-asphalt mixture will prevent more serious problems, such as the formation of macrocracks that occur naturally or as a result of heavy vehicular traffic or temperature changes. The microcapsule technology, developed and implemented as part of this innovative project, will increase the durability and duration of road pavements.

“Mechanical pavement degradation can be significantly reduced by improving mineral-asphalt mixtures. One innovative approach is to use the so-called microcapsules, having rigid shells filled with a liquid agent to repair any microcracks that may form in the asphalt pavement. This is a completely new road construction material that has never been used before in Poland,” says Dariusz Blocher, President of the Management Board, CEO of Budimex SA.

Various types of microcapsule will be tested during the study, including microcapsules with various sizes and wall thicknesses, made of various materials and filled with repair agents.

The tests will not just take place in the laboratory, as test pavement sections will also be laid to confirm the properties of the technology.

The project is co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development.
Project value: PLN 4,020,928.27
Co-financing value: PLN 2,588,343.21

Budimex, as a construction industry leader, is particularly focused on innovative education, partnerships and implementation of pioneering development projects. Thanks to cooperation with research units, the company is able to implement new technologies and knowledge in its investment projects.